Syrup-skimmer.



W. M. CLANTON, JR.

SYRUP SKIMMBR.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.20, 1913.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

mmw,

WITNESSES ,zzi (5.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, FHOTO-LITHIZ. WASHINGTON D. C.

WILLIAM IVL CLANTON, JR., OF DAISY, GEORGIA.

SYRUP-SKIMIVIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlteb. 23, 1915.

Application filed February 20, 1913. Serial No. 749,721.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. GLAN- ron, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Daisy, in the county of Tattnall and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Syrup- Skimmers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to syrup skimmers.

In the boiling of syrups, such for instance, as cane juice, various skimming devices have been used to separate the scums from the syrup in the boiling over process. The syrup and scums adhere to the skinnning devices, necessitating constant cleaning of the same. The skimming devices known to me are of a more or less complicated nature and considerable time and labor is required to remove and maintain them in a cleanly condition Many of these skimming devices are complicated, expensive, and difiicult to clean. Many of them are quickly discarded and the skimming accomplished by hand manipulated devices because of the complicated structures and the difficulty experienced in cleaning them, aside from the amount of labor involved and the loss of time to clean the same.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simple, inexpensive, durable and efficient skimming device of the character stated.

Another object is to provide a new and novel skimming device which may be readily disposed at the top of the boiler and satisfactorily perform the skimming operation without the necessity of removing the device from the boiler for washing, cleaning, or for other purposes.

A still further object resides in the provision of a combined mouth piece and skimming device for connection with the boilers of syrup boiling furnaces.

/Vith the above and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectional view inv eluding a portion of a furnace.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the reference character 5 indicates a boiler of any suitable character, but int this instance, the upper edge of the boiler is preferably beveled downwardly and inwardly as indicated at a. The boiler 5 is preferably composed of metal or any other suitable material and is supported, as usual, at the top of the furnace A.

Disposed upon the upper edge of the boiler or other container is my improved skimming device which consists preferably of a comparatively narrow, annular, slightly contracted body portion 7 which forms a contracted mouth at the top of the boiler and, at the upper edge of which, the scums boil over. Syrup frequently accompanies the scums in the boiling over process and these scums and the syrup pass down the outer side of the contracted annular body portion 6 and on to the slightl upwardly and outwardly directed flange which preferably conforms in incline with the inclination of the beveled portion A at the top of the boiler. The periphery of this upwardly and outwardly directed flange is preferably turned up, as at 8, with the edge of the upwardly turned portion 8 preferably beaded as indicated at 9. The flanges 6 and 8 form a trough b to receive the overflowing scums and syrup.

At the annular juncture of the annular flanges 6 and 8 are provided apertures 10 designed for the purpose of permitting the syrup that overflows into the trough to pass back into the boiler whereby the loss of syrup is prevented and yet an efficient separation of the scums from the syrup is effected for the reason that the scums cannot pass back into the boiler through said apertures 10 but are retained in the gutter or trough b.

The apertures 10 are comparatively small and while there is sufficient juice in the trough or gutter to keep the scums afloat, the latter are preferably removed with a small perforated paddle (not shown) which operation does not require more than two minutes per hour and is made easy owing to the fact that the portions 9 and 10 of said skimmer slant away from the bottom of the trough, in opposite directions and there is no obstruction which might interfere with the operation. The removal of the scums while afloat in the syrup obviates the necessity of constant washing and cleaning of the skimming device, because, so long as the scums float, the same may be easily removed. By removing the scums while afloat adherence of the scums to the skimming device is prevented.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide a skimming device of an exceed ingly simple nature and which is so formed that one part thereof may form the contracted mouth portion of the boiler. It will also be apparent that the overflowing juice may readily return'to the boiler while the overflowing scums are excluded from the boiler and easily removed from the trough in the skimming device and the danger of adherence of the scums to the device easily obviated by removal of the scums while afloat in the overflowing juice. The skimming device may be secured to the top of the boiler in any suitable manner or it may merely rest on top of the beveled upper edge of the boiler.

What is claimed is A skimming device comprising a comparatively narrow annular slightly contracted body portion provided at its lower edge with a surrounding outwardly and upwardly flared flange whose periphery is directed outwardly at an angle to the flange to form a trough surrounding the base of the body portion, and the device having apertures at the juncture of the body portion and said flange, the periphery of said flange and the body portion of the skimmer slanting in opposite directions away from the flange thereby providing for the ready insertion of an implement into the trough for removing scum from syrup retained therein by the apertures and entering the same by passing over the upper end of the body portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. CLANTON, JR.

Witnesses W. T. S'ruBBs, E. O. DAR-snY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

